Gas burner control mechanism for ranges, stoves, and the like



nJununevZ, 1936.' H. LANGE 2,043,106

GAS BURNER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RANGES, STOVES AND THE LIKE fe/Lryl cuz/ge Emme 2, l936 LANGE 2,043,106

GAS BURNER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RANGES, STOVES AND THE LIKE l Filed July 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .lune 2, 1936 UNITED STATES GAS BURNER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RANGES, STOVES, AND THE LIKE Henry Lange, Quincy, Ill., assigner to The Quincy Stove Manufacturing Company, Quincy, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 5, 1932, Serial No. 620,760

20 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved unitary control mechanism adapted for use on multiburner ranges, stoves and the like employing fluid fuels and in the specific embodiment of the 5 invention shown and described, the same is applied to a common form of kitchen range utilizing gas as its fuel and provided with a plurality of cooking holes equipped with gas burners. The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved form of gas control mechanism for effecting the complete control of the several burners associated with the cooking holes of the range by which the said burners may be operated y either individually or all of them operated simultaneously or any desired number operated selectively from a single valve control element.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a multi-burner stove or range employing -fluid fuel an improved valve mechanism for sup- 0 plying fuel to the several burners either for single or collective operation of the burners or for operating them simultaneously in any desired combinations less than the total number of the burners, together with improved means for selectively operating one or more of the total number of the burners with a restricted supply of fluid fuel to produce a low degree of heat in certain burners commonly referred to as simmering, all operative from a single or dial controlled element.

It is a further object of the invention to generally improve the construction of a unitary dial control valve mechanism for selectively admitting fuel to a plurality of gas burners and for controlling the operation of a. plurality of burners in any desired sequence.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a fluid fuel range having a plurality of gas burners, a simple and economical unitary fuel control valve mechanism for controlling the fuel supply to said burners, which said valve mechanism shall be capable of relatively easy hand manipulation for selectively controlling the various burners from a, unitary dial element and be at the same time provided with improved valve devices so constructed as to greatly decrease any objectionable leakage and waste of fluid fuel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a unitary fluid fuel control mechanism for ranges, stoves and the like, having a plurality of burners, of simple and economical construction easily operated and provided with fuel cutoff devices of a character and construction to decrease the liability of the mechanism to failure or leakage when operated over long periods of time.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a fluid fuel stove or range, an improved unitary fluid fuel device of simple and economical construction so mounted upon the stove or Cil range as to be easily accessible and convenientlyv operated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved form of single or unitary valve construction for controlling fluid fuel supply to a plurality of burners which said valve mechanism shall be so constructed as to tend to seat the relatively movable parts more perfectly due to any wear that may occur by reason of friction in operation of the same over long periods of time and usage.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description which is directed to the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, the novel features being set forth in the appended claims.

In the said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation front view of a common form of kitchen gas range to which my invention is shown applied as illustrative of an embodiment of the invention in one form of range.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, horizontal, diametrical, sectional view through my improved gas control valve mechanism as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the gas manifold and valve mechanism supporting casting, the View being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the gas distribution conduits formed integrally therein being designated by dotted lines, and the axial rotary valve operating stem or shaft being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a. detached top plan view of the han controlled valve operating member or dial shown in elevation in Fig. 1, and illustrating the manner in which the periphery thereof may be suitably marked for indicating various positions for registering with the indicator or pointer shown associated with the dial in Fig. l for selectively operating` the various burners either singly or collectively or in selected combinations, the face of the dial being also suitably marked to indicate intermediate off positions between each pair of adjacent on positions.

Fig. '5 is an elevation view partly in section taken .on line 5 5 of Figs. 2 `and 11 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and illustrating the construction of the valve control or indexing plate and its supporting means comprising a part of my improved gas burner control valve mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through the valve housing casting Ion line 6 6 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing in elevation or plan View the face of the rotary valve plate of my improved valve mechanism with the adjacent portion of its hollow supporting axial shaft and the supporting stem of the auxiliary shut-off valve and valve plate attaching means in section.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the valve seat plate formed integral with the gas manifold casting of Fig. 3 illustrating the relative position of the gas valve discharge ports in the valve seat for feeding fluid fuel to manifold conduits leading to the respective fuel mixing devices supplying fluid fuel to the respective gas burners of the range, the view being taken on line 'I-'I of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatical, detached views of the rotary valve plate of Fig. 6 shown in association with the valve seat of Figs. 2 and 7, the outline of the Valve seat supporting manifold casting being indicated in broken. dotted lines. In Figs. 8 and 9 the rotary valve plate is shown in different adjusted positions for variously operating the respective burners of the range.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional View of portions of the valve mechanism of Fig. 2 illustrating the valve mechanism locked in an off position or in a position where the uid fuel or gas is cut off from all the burners, and Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating the relative position of the parts of. the mechanism as shown in Fig. 10 with the valve mechanism adjusted to a position for admitting fluid fuel or gas to certain of the burner conduits in the manifold in which position the rotary valve shaft is shown in an unlocked position but adjusted so that when the pressure of the operator upon the valve adjusting dial is released the valve will be locked in an open position with the parts of the indexing plate and the auxiliary shut-off valve resiliently carried thereby spaced from the auxiliary valve seat at the terminus of the main gas supply pipe, as in Fig. 10.

In the drawings I show my single dial gas burner control mechanism applied to the conventional type of kitchen range designated generally by the reference character I0, in Fig. 1 and from an inspection of which it will be seen that my invention of a single dial control makes it possible to effectively minimize the number of exposed operative parts, especially on the front of the range or stove thus eliminating the usual exposed gas cock operating levers or devices and hence improving the appearance of. the range or stove as an article of kitchen furniture. The hand operated movable, unitary dial of the device is designated by the reference character I I, there being a stationary indicator finger o1 pointer I2 mounted on the frame of the range adjacent the periphery of the dial for association therewith to enable an operator to properly actuate and position the dial throughout its permissible range of multiple adjustments.

The details of the rotary hand operated member or dial II are shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, the same being accessibly secured to the extremity of the axial rotary valve shaft I3 on the outside of the metal front plate 9 which, as shown in the drawings, serves as a cover over the front of the burner box compartment of the range, the operative connection between the rotary valve shaft I3 and the dial member I I being made in any desired manner, preferably by an internally formed hub portion I4 receiving the outer end of the shaft I3, both the hub and the shaft being provided with registering openings for receiving a locking key or pin I5 that may conveniently be inserted through an opening in the dial member II as indicated at I6. The dial shaft I3 is rotatably journalled in a gas manifold designated generally by the reference character I'I which is preferably in the form of an elongated integral casting comprising a relatively circular intermediate portion, which is centrally bored to receive the shaft I3, and two diametrically opposed radial extensions, each of which is formed with a pair of substantially longitudinally extended openings within the body portion thereof as designated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings by the reference characters I 3, I 9, 2!) and 2I, respectively.

In the present embodiment of. the invention, the gas manifold and valve seat casting I'I carrying the dial II and the rotary valve shaft I3 is detachably secured and carried by a bell-shaped valve housing designated generally by the reference character 22 (Figs. 2, 6, 10 and l1) the same being provided with a tubular hub portion 23 adapted to be screw threaded as shown or otherwise detachably secured and carried by the main gas feed pipe 24 which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is preferably brought to a point within the burner box casing covered by the front cover plate 9 so that when the valve housing 22 is secured on the end of the supply pipe 23 and the manifold casting I1 is attached thereto it will be supported thereby with the front surface of the manifold casting II arranged iiush with the inside of the front cover plate 9 of the burner box with the rotary valve shaft I3 projecting through an opening 25 in plate 9.

The manifold casting having the aforesaid intermediate circular portion or boss 52 extended inwardly to form a valve seat 53 is provided with radial perforated projections 2S, 2l, 28 and 29 which are adapted to register with corresponding perforated projections 33 to 33 inclusive (Fig. 7) formed on the skirt of the valve housing 22 and screw threaded to take the screw threaded bolts 34 (Fig. 3) for clamping the valve housing 22 to the manifold casting I'I by which the manifold casting is supported from the fixed forward extension of the gas supply pipe 24 in a position to present the usual gas supply nipples 35, 35, 3l', 38. to a position for co-operating with suitable bellmouthed tubular members 39, 40, 4I and 42, forming complimentary parts of a fuel mixing device connected to supply gas to the usual burners of the range through conduits extending from such fuel mixers through the burner box and thence upwardly to the usual burners which in the present instance may be located in conjunction with cooking holes in the top plate of the burner box, the burners not being shown in the drawings since the same form no part of the present invention. The mixer nipples 35 to 38 inclusive are, as Will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2, connected to receive fluid fuel at the outer extremities of the longitudinal feed openings I8 to 2I inclusive in the manifold casting and these openings extending into the central hub and valve seat portion of the manifold casting terminate in angularly extending port holes arranged parallel with the axial valve shaft I3 as designated by the reference characters 43, A4, 45 and 43 respectively, furnishing inlet ports in the valve seat for distribution of fluid fuel to the respective fluid passages I8 to ZI inclusive and the mixing devices connected therewith, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 and also in the sectional view through the valve seat portion in Fig. 7.

The axially rotatable valve shaft I3 will be positioned in its journal bearing through the manifold casting Il with a packing gland around it in the bearing as indicated at 41. The gland 41 will consist of a peripheral internal enlargement or undercut groove as illustrated in Fig. 2 into which a radially extending screw threaded opening will be tapped from the periphery of the hub portion of the casting to take a closure screw 48 (Fig. 3) upon the removal of which a suitable fluid as lubricating cil or analogous material may be injected into the gland which may also contain some suitable fibrous packing material to be Wrapped around a slightly reduced and preferably grooved interior portion of the shaft as indicated by the reference character 49 (Fig. 2).

A metallic compression spring 50 of spiral form is inserted on the interior of the dial member II, the same being preferably in the form of a frustum of a cone with the large extremity thereof bearing against the hollow interior of the dial member II and with its smaller extremity impinging upon the surface of the manifold casting I1 around the dial and valve shaft opening within the cut-away portion 25 in the front burner box cover plate I4 thus tending to normally hold the rotary dial valve operating member I I and the attached valve shaft I3 with a resilient pressure toward the outer limits of its movements for the purpose of normally causing the attached main distributive rotary valve plate 5I (Fig. 2) to be seated under pressure of this compression spring 5D upon the adjacent surface or valve seat 53 of the valve seat portion 52 Which is provided with the before described valve discharge ports 43 to 46 inclusive (Figs. 2, '7, 10 and 1l). Valve plate 5| is fixed to rotate with shaft I3 but the shaft is arranged to have an indexing, longitudinal movement through the central valve opening as presently described.

The main axially rotative shaft I3 will carry at its inner extremity a circular valve control or indexing plate 54 which may be formed integrally on the inner end of the shaft I3 as illustrated in the drawings (Figs. 2, 5, 10 and 11) or said plate 54 may be formed separately from the shaft I3 Aand rigidly secured to rotate therewith in the manner described for controlling by an indexing or locking movement the various adjusted off and on positions of the valve shaft and dial or hand-operating member I I. Around the outer periphery of the valve stem indexing plate 54 is provided a plurality of spaced perforations as illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, 10 and 11 and the circular plate 54 is of a size adapted to iit loosely into a circular recess 55 around the main gas inlet opening 55 communicating with the aforesaid main fuel supply pipe 24, there being a peripheral valve seat in the form of an outstanding ledge 51 on the housing 22 with which the auxiliary springv controlled valve 58 (Figs. 2, 10 and 1l) cooperates. The index plate 54 and the rotary shaft I3 will be centrally and axially perforated to take a stem 59 for supporting the valve 58, the stem 59 being radially and longitudinally slotted as indicated at 5G (Figs. 2, 10 and 1l).

A coiled compression spring 5I relatively Weak as compared with the valve shaft operating spring 5E! is inserted in the longitudinal opening in the shaft I3 between the terminus of the stem 59 and the bottom of the opening and the adjacent hollow end of the shaft i3 is provided with a perforation and a slot to receive an angularly shaped key which has the dual function of providing a portion which extends longitudinally of the shaft I3 on its outer periphery to provide a key 52 for engagement with a radial slot 63 extending only part way through the valve plate 5I adjacent a central perforation in the plate (Figs. 2, 6, and 8 to 1l inclusive) and a radially and inwardly projecting portion co-operating with the longitudinal and radial slot 60 in the auxiliary valve stem 59. The slot 60 is long enough to permit the auxiliary valve plate 58 to seat in a circular depression 64 on the plate 54 when the operator of the dial control member II presses the dial and the shaft I3 controlled thereby with the indexing and locking plate 54 thereon to the innermost limit of its movement in relation to the valve housing bringing the auxiliary valve 58 to the auxiliary valve seat 51 to position the rotary valve member in the unlocked position (Fig. 11) for permitting valve adjustments as hereinafter described when the fluid fuel to the valve control mechanism will be temporarily cut off to prevent leakage during Valve adjustments; but when the main rotary valve shaft I3 is released by the operator under the expansive force of the spring 50 and the indexing or locking plate 54 is retracted from the auxiliary seat 51 to locking position on pin 65 (Fig. l0), which may be either one of the plurality of on or off positions of the valve mechanism, the slot being of sufficient length will permit the auxiliary Valve 58 under the expansive action of spring 6I to lie upon the seat 51 until one of the indexing holes in the plate 54 is started in engaging relation with the stationary locking or indexing pin 55 when the valve shaft I3 and plate 54 will move to a seat upon the support 66 of pin 65 a distance of approximately one-sixteenth (1l-6) of an inch in the embodiment of the device as shown to the selected on or off position which latter seating movement of the shaft I3 and plate 54 will by reason of the restricted length of slot 60 cause the key 62 on the auxiliary valve stem 59 to Withdraw the valve 58 from its seat 51 to admit gas to the valve chamber.

Since the radial key slot 63 in the main valve plate 5 I as described extends only part Way through said plate, a shoulder or stop 61 (Fig. ll) is provalve actuating shaft I3 will impinge whenever the operator releases pressure on the dial so that when the indexing plate 54 is locked in registering on or off positions, the pressure of the major spring 53 Will be exerted upon the main rotary valve 5I to hold the same firmly to its seat with an elastic pressure which is one of the important features of my improved valve construction as the plane construction of the valve seat plate 52 as indicated at 53 and the corresponding plane surface of the main rotary plate 5I may be made in a machine and ground before assembly by modern machining and grinding tools to surface finishes of such accuracy as to preclude theH likelihood of leakage between these spring pressed parts. Such accuracy, easily obtained, together With the extended surfaces surrounding the various valve openings and port holes in the relatively movable parts of the valve mechanism not only renders leakage after the original assembly of the parts unlikely but the relative rotary movement between the parts, coupled with a spring pressure thereon from the main valve spring 5i), practically insures the valve structure against developing any irregular surfaces that might tend to cause leakage since the relative movement between valve plates V5I and 52 will tend to cause them to seat more accurately by reason of any Wear that may occur between vided against which the key 62 fixed to the main 455;

the plates during the frictional contact over long periods of usage.

For convenience in describing the sequence of movements of the parts of my improved valve mechanism, I have designated the respective peripherally arranged holes in the valve locking or indexing plate 54 by the reference characters 'i6 to 93 inclusive, also the main rotary valve plate 5| (Figs. 6, 8, and 9) is provided with a plurality of suitably spaced gas openings or port holes, twenty-four in number, which for convenience in description, I have designated as 94 to inclusive.

From the description of the main rotary valve plate 5i with its spaced apart radially arranged valve openings 94 to iii inclusive and of the locking perforations 'i9 to 93 inclusive in the rotary indexing cr locking plate 54, it will be seen that the openings in the valve plate are arranged on radial lines 68 (see Fig. 6) so spaced apart that between each adjacent radial valve plate feed opening space there is an intermediate position or station designated by intermediate radial lines 69 that have no openings along them. In other words, on the valve plate 5i there are in the present embodiment of the invention, twentyfour radial spaces or valve positions, twelve of which have no radially arranged openings on them, and twelve of which have the openings 94 t0 Ill inclusive arranged radially and longitudinally thereon in various combinations as shown. Also it should be stated that there is an exact correspondence between the twenty-four peripheral openings i0 to 93 inclusive of the index plate 54 and the valve feed openings 94 to |51 which permit of a series of twenty-four different major adjustments of the dial and valve plate, twelve of which will have various on gas feed selections for either single burner or multiple burner feeding, and twelve of these spaced openings on the indexing plate 54 are arranged for locking the valve plate in intermediate off positions with the gas completely cut off from the burners. The valve plate 5|, perforated as shown with feed openings in Figs. 6, 8 and 9, being seated upon the valve seat 53 controls the four spacedapart, radially arranged fuel feed ports 43 to 46 inclusive in the manifold, for supplying the aforesaid fuel mixing devices and burners connected therewith.

The operation of the device and various conibinations that may be obtained in manipulating my improved valve mechanism will be best understood from a detailed description of various rela- `tive positions of the respective parts including the dial control member l which may be moved from various locked off positions of the respective parts of the valve mechanism to any desired open or on position.

As shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6 the dial and valve are in an off position in which the locking perforation 16 engages the locking pin 65 with the four gas feed holes, 43 to 46 inclusive, in the valve seat plate 52, all closed and this will be true of each of the other adjustments of the valve with respect to the alternate and even numbered (1U to 92 inclusive) peripheral indexing holes, in the plate 54, wle-.ile the remaining twelve alternate holes (1I-93 inclusive) will cause the valve to be operated to one of the twelve open positions for feeding the fluid fuel to one or more of the four burners according to the selected adjustment. As aforesaid, in the position of the Valve 5| of Fig. 6 as taken corresponding with the relative position of the index plate 54 shown in Fig. 5 and with the ports 43 to 46 inclusive in the dotted line positions of Fig. 6, the feed ducts in the manifold, |8 to 29 inclusive, Will be closed to the burners. In the diagrammatic views, Figs. 8 and 9 I illustrate how various combinations will be secured for admitting fluid fuel to one or more of the respective burners. For example, in Fig. 8, the valve mechanism is shown as adjusted or dialed to a position to admit fluid fuel to the respective burners supplied by the fuel mixing devices 39 to 42 inclusive, it being observed that the duct i8 from the port hole 43 supplies fuel to the mixer 39; the duct I9 from port hole 45 to the mixer 42, the duct 29 from the port hole 44 tothe mixer 40 and the duct 2| from the port hole 46 to the mixer 4|- With the valve 5| indexed as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 with respect to the holes 'I6 to 93 inclusive in the index plate 54, if the index hole 'I6 be freed from the locking pin 65 in the manner described and the dial member and the valve shaft thereto attached rotated in a clockwise direction five spaces or until the opening 'll in the index plate is in position to engage the locking pin 65, the valve plate will be in the relative position with respect to the manifold discharge ports 43 to 46 inclusive as shown in Fig. 8, thus bringing the valve plate opening 94 into register with the port 45 and opening the fluid fuel to the mixer 42, the opening 96 into register with the port 46 leading to burner mixer 4l, the opening |65 into register with the port 43 and mixer 39 and the opening |03 into register with the n port 44 and mixer 40. In this position the release of pressure upon the dial by the operator will result in the index opening engaging the locking pin 65 to lock the valve in position to supply all four of the respective burner mixers with a normal supply of fuel, the index position of the valve just before the indexing plate is seated upon the pin 65 being illustrated most clearly in Fig. 1l while the similar view in Fig. l0 illustrates a locked position of the indexing plate 54 but in one of the twelve off positions instead of an open valve position as shown in Fig. l1, the locking function, however, except for simmering, being identical either in the off or on position, and in this connection it should be noted that whenever the indexirrT plate 54 is pressed to a movable, unlocked position to free the adjusting dial the shaft I3 and the rotary valve plate 5| for adjusting, the auxiliary valve 5S will temporarily cut-off the gas supply to the valve mechanism for reasons heretofore set forth, while the open position of the auxiliary cut-off valve 58 with the main valve in locked open or closed position is shown in Fig. l0.

In Fig. 9 is shown another position of adjustment of the valve 5|, the dial being rotated in relation to the feed ports 43 to if-G inclusive in the valve seat on the manifold from the relative position of the parts as shown in Fig.'6 in a clockwise direction seventeen (17) spaces, thus bringing the index opening 83 of the valve indexing plate 54 into registering position with the locking pin 65 which will cause the somewhat elongated hole |U4 in valve plate 5| to register with port 45 and the similarly elongated hole |61 in the plate to register with gas feed port 46 in the manifold while the opening H6 in the plate will register with the port opening 44 and the port opening 43 in the manifold leading to the burner mixer 39 will be closed. This position of the valve ports with the valve in an on position as illustrated in Fig. 9 results in opening a fuel supply to three of the burners and leaving one of them totally closed.

Furthermore, the illustration in Fig. 9 shows a special provision that is made by me in the valve mechanism for adjusting the Valve to a position where certain of the open burners may be in a normal full open position while the supply of gas to another burner or burners may be cut down to provide what is known as a simmer which is a burner operated with a very small flame by the admission of a much less than normal quantity of fuel which is used ordinarily for keeping cooking utensils over such burners warm without applying an intense cooking heat. With, for example, certain of the gas supply holes in the plate 5| elongated as illustrated by the holes |64, |01, |08, ||2, H3 and |15 respectively I am enabled to adjust the valve mechanism to positions where it is not only in position to have the valve ports in positions of adjustment to supply gas to the individual burner mixers 39 to 42 inclusive alone but I am enabled to adjust the valve mechanism in various of the twelve possible on positions to secure a simmering effect upon certain of the burners while one or more of the other burners at the same time remain in an open position. The adjustment of the valve to procure the simmering effect or a low gas supply on certain selected burners with others fully open, is made possible by the aforesaid elongated openings in the valve plate which permit of the valve plate being rotated a limited degree from a selected open position under which conditions the gas may be partially cut ofi from certain of the round holes by a limited shifting of the plate while the aforesaid elongated holes in the plate will permit one or more of the other burner supply ports to remain fully open. The simmering adjustment might be obtained by making the locking pin 65 relatively short so that if the pin 65 is ofV approximately the same size as the registering holes in the index plate, the valve can be left slightly out of the locked open position and in a simmering position with respect to certain of the elongated valve hoies, which valve holes will continue to admit a normal supply of fuel but certain other normally sized openings in the valve will be partially closed, or if desired, the locking pin 65 might be of a smaller diameter than the on position indexing perforations in the locking plate 54 which will permit of a sufficient amount of relative movement of the larger diameter valve plate in the twelve on positions by a slight rotation of the valve index member and the valve shaft, together with the index plate 54, notwithstanding the plate 54 may be otherwise in a normally locked position. Even if a certain amount of looseness between the pin 65 and the indexing perforations lil-93 in plate 54 be permitted for simmering and burner flame adjusting purposes of the spring pressed valve plate 5|, this looseness will not be objectionable When the valve is in any one of the intermediate twelve closed positions since the permissible relative movement as described will not uncover any port until the valve is completely unlocked ,and moved into the zone of one of the twelve open valve positions. However, I prefer the off locking holes to engage the pin 55 without play or looseness.

summarizing with respect to the valve mechanism and its mode of operation, it may be stated that in the form shown there are twelve open positions or stations of the valve mechanism, to-

gether with twelve other intermediate positions'or stations in all of which the valve mechanism will be locked against rotation. If the indexing plate 54 as illustrated in the drawing be keyed to the dial shaft and valve plate 5| so that, as before described, the registering of the opening l with the locking pin 65 will put the valve plate in a position, with respect to the valve ports 43 to 46 inclusive, as illustrated in Fig. 6 with all of the ports closed, then it will be seen that the opening 'Eil in the index plate 54, together with all the other even numbers of the twenty-four holes, from 'l5 to 92 inclusive, will result in locking the valve iny its twelve off or closed positions, while the odd numbers, in the series to 93 inclusive, will lock the valve in open positions; and while I have specially referred to only two adjustments of the valve, namely, those shown in Figs. 8 and 9 where the locking hole 1| in the index plate is in engagement with the locking pin 65 as in Fig. 8V or with the opening 83 in the index plate in engagement with the pin as shownin Fig. 9, it will be apparent that by causing the respective odd numbered apertures, 'll to 93 inclusive, to engage the locking pin 65 by proper dial adjustments as described, the following combinations of burner adjustments will be secured.

(l) Indexplate opening 'H in engaging position on locking or index pin 65 produces the before described valve condition of four open ports to burner mixers 35 to 42 inclusive as illustrated in Fig. 8 and heretofore described.

(2) Index plate opening 93 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens ports 45 and 46 through registering valve openings 94 and 96 to burner mixers 4| and 42, the other -burners being closed.

(3) Index plate opening 9| in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens ports 44 and 46 through registering valve openings |U| ||5, to burnerV mixers 45 and 42, valve opening being elongated to produce a dwell in the closing of its co-operating port so that the opening EelY in the valve plate may be adjusted to produce a simmer or restricted amount of fuel to be delivered through the port 44 to burner mixer 40, the other burners being closed.

(e) Index plate opening 89 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens ports 43, 45 and 46 through registering valve openings |2, ||3 and |42 to burner mixers 39, 4| and 42, the valve openings ||3 and l2 being elongated to permit their co-operating ports to remain open while the opening |02 is adjusted to a partly closed position to provide a simmer to burner mixer 39.

(5) Index plate opening 81 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens ports 44 and 45 respectively leading to burner mixers 4|! and 42 by bringing circular valve openings 91 and into engagement with ports 44 and 45 respectively.

(6) Index plate opening 85 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens ports 43 and 45 through valve plate openings 98 and |68 respectively, opening |68 being elongated to enable valve opening 98 to partially close to cause the burner supplied by mixer 39 to simmer.

(7) Index plate opening 63 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens ports 44, 45 and 46 to supply their respective burner mixers, with valve openings |04 and |01, engaging ports 45 and 46 respectively, being elongated to provide a simmer adjustment for the port 44 to supply burner mixer 46.

(8) Index plate opening 8| in engaging position on the locking or index pin opens port 43 through registering valve opening ||1 to burner mixer 39, the other burners being closed.

(9) Index plate opening 'I9 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens port 44 through registering valve opening 0 for supplying fuel to burner mixer 40.

(10) Index plate opening I1 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens port 45 through registering valve opening |00 for supplying burner mixer 42.

(1l) Index plate opening 15 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens ports 43 and 44 through registering openings |06 and |09.

(12) Index plate opening 13 in engaging position on the locking or index pin 65 opens port 46 only, through registering valve opening 99 to burner mixer 42, the other burners being closed.

For making simmer adjustments, certain of the valve plate openings may be elongated as shown by the described openings |04, |07, |08, ||2, ||3 and ||5. To permit some relative movements of the Valve plate 5| on its seat for simmering and flame height control, I have found it desirable to enlarged the odd numbered index holes 1| to 93 inclusive or some of them as required by elongating them circumferentially of the plate 54. While I have shown only holes 9|, 89, 85 and 33 elongated for simmering (Fig. 5) I nd it possible and desirable that there be sufficient looseness between the odd numbered registering openings to 93 inclusive and the locking pin 65 to permit not only of simmer adjustments in relation to the before described elongated openings in the valve plate but to permit other adjustments for height of burner flame on all of the twelve open positions of the valve 5| through the dial member to admit of some regulation of the height of burner flame when the supply valve is in an open position with respect to certain of the burner mixing devices or in simmer relation with respect to others.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that my improved gas burner control mechanism provides a construction designed to be operated by a unitary, rotary control member by which the operator of the range or stove may open the burners, in this oase consisting of four burners, in any desired relation as, for example, a single burner may be operated or two of the burners may be operated simultaneously as described with an optional adjustment by which one of the two burners being operated may be operated on a reduced fuel supply for simmering. Also that three burners may be operated simultaneously or three selected burners on another adjustment may be operated with one of them simmering o1' all of the four burners may be operated simultaneously if desired and that adjustments of the Valve mechanism are easily obtained through the single dial control and that the mechanism is furthermore comparatively simple in construction and economical to produce comprising relatively few wearing parts. Nearly all of the parts, including especially the rotary Valve plate and its seat tend to' wear together in fitting relation the longer they are operated so that fuel leakages are not likely to occur throughout long periods of usage and especially is this true on account of the construction of the valve mechanism which enables me to dispense with packing materials in portions of the device that might be injuriously affected by heat.

It will furthermore be seen that my invention enables the front panel or control board of a gas range or stove, heretofore objectionably cluttered up with a large number of individual Valve operating devices and valve mechanisms often exposed, to be simplified so that not only is the ediciency and mode of operation of the burner control mechanism enhanced but the simplicity and ornamental appearance of the range or stove is greatly improved, and furthermore the operative parts may be readily encased in a manner to protect them from accumulations of foreign materials as dirt and dust and the like.

In order that the invention might be understood, the details of the preferred embodiments as depicted in the drawings have been described with particularity but except as specified in the claims, it is not desired to be limited to the details of the shown embodiment since it will be apparent that persons skilled in the art may resort to various modifications of structure, materials. proportions and relation of parts without departing from the purpose and spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. Ihe combination in a gaseous fuel burner control device of a plurality of gas and air mixers, a valve housing, said housing having a port adapted to be operatively connected with a uid fuel supply pipe, a main valve seat in the housing, said valve seat being in the form of an extended surface provided with a plurality of radially arranged intake ports communicating with passages leading to said fluid fuel burner mixers, a longitudinally shiftable rotary shaft journalled in the wall of the housing centrally of the valve seat, a perforated rotary valve of plate form operatively connected to said rotary shaft and seated upon said valve seat whereby the perforations therein may be brought into registering relation over the intake ports of the valve seat in the housing, a valve indexing plate secured to said rotary shaft, a cooperating indexing pin carried by the Valve housing, a hand adjusting device accessibly secured to the said rotary shaft, and elastic means for holding the said rotary valve member upon its seat.

2. In a gas burner control mechanism for ranges, stoves and the like, the combination with a plurality of gas and air mixers, of a main gas supply pipe, a valve housing operatively connected therewith, and provided with an auxiliary valve seat adjacent the delivery end of the said supply pipe, a fuel distribution header carried by the said valve housing and provided with a plurality of separated supply passages leading to the said mixers, the said supply passages opening into a valve seat on the said header secured to form a closure for the said Valve housing, a rotary valve shaft journalled in the header and extending from the exterior of the header member to the interior of the valve housing adjacent the aforesaid valve seat and auxiliary valve seat therein, a perforated valve plate operatively secured to the said rotary valve shaft in engaging relation with said valve seat, a control or valve indexing plate secured to the said rotary valve shaft, means co-operating with said control or valve indexing plate for selectively locking said plate and said valve shaft against rotation in their respective adjusted positions, a movable, spring actuated auxiliary valve carried by Ithe valve shaft adjacent said auxiliary valve seat, elastic means for controlling said rotary valve shaft and the said perforated Valve carried thereby in relation to its seat, and means accessible from the exterior of the said header member and the housing for controlling the movement of the said valve shaft and the main and auxiliary valves carried thereby.

3. Valve mechanism for gas distribution comprising a housing provided with an inlet port and a valve seat for controlling the said inlet port, a gas distribution header member detachably connected with the said housing and forming a closure for one side thereof, there being a Valve seat formed on the said header on the part thereof co-operating with the interior of the housing, a main rotary valve mounted in the housing, there being a plurality of discharge ducts having intake openings arranged peripherally around the said valve seat on the header, a rotary valve shaft carried by the header and exte-nding into the housing,- the main rotary valve on the rotary Valve shaft being adapted to engage the aforesaid valve seat, a valve indexing plate carried by the said rotary valve shaft, means on the interior of the housing for engaging said indexing plate for positioning the said valve shaft and the valve carried thereby, and a spring pressed auxiliary valve carried by the valve shaft* for co-operating with the auxiliary valve seat at the intake port of the housing.

4. In a gas burner control mechanism for ranges, stoves and the like for supplying a plurality of gas and air mixers, the combination With a valve housing provided with a unitary intake port, of an auxiliary valve seat on the interiorof the housing adjacent said intake port, a closure member for the housing comprising a gas distribution header member detachably connected with the said housing and provided on the part thereof adjacent the interior of the housing -With a valve seat provided with a plurality of gas outlet ports, a rotary valve shaft journalled on the distribution header member, a circular valve plate ro-tatively secured to the said valve shaft and seated upon the said valve seat on the distribution header member, an index plate fixed in relation to the inner extremity of the rotary valve shaft, means on the index plate and the housing for (zo-operatively locking the said rotary valve shaft in the various adjusted positions of the main valve member carried thereby, the said valve shaft being mounted to have both longitudinal and rotary. movements, an auxiliary spring pressed valve carried at they inner end of the said rotary and longitudinally movable valve shaft adjacent the said index plate and being adapted for seating on the said intake auxiliary valve seat, elastic means for moving said auxiliary valve longitudinally of said rotary valve shaft toward engaging relation with its said seat on the housing, and elastic means for holding the main valve plate in position on its seat.

5. In a gaseous fuel burner control mechanism for ranges, stoves and the like, the combination with a supply pipe, of a plurality of gas and air mixers, a valve housing carried by and operatively connected With said supply pipe, a headei` having a plurality of discharge passages communicating with the valve housing and leading to the said respective burner mixers, a unitary, rotary valve member located in the valve housing for controlling the distribution of gas from said supply pipe to said mixers, a rotary shaft for operating the said rotary valve member, means carried bythe rotary shaft and operable thereby for cutting off the fuel supply to the rotary valve Within the valve housing when the said rotary valve member is in intermediate positions beheader on the part thereof co-operating with the interior of the housing, a rotary valve mounted in the housing, there being a plurality of discharge ducts arranged peripherally around the said valve seat on the header, a rotary valve shaft carried by the header for supporting said rotary valve and extending into the housing, the main rotary valve on the rotary valve shaft being provided vvith a plurality of spaced perforations adapted to co-operate with the said discharge ducts on the valve seat, a valve indexing plate carried by the said rotary valve shaft, the-.said plate being provided with a plurality of peripherally arranged openings, a locking pin'on the housing adapted to be engaged by the said indexing plate for positioning the said valve shaft and valve carried thereby, a spring pressed auxiliary valve carried by the valve shaft for cooperating With the auxiliary valve seat in the intake port of the housing, elastic means for controlling longitudinal movements of the kvalve shaft whereby to cause the said rot-ary valve to engage its seat under resilient pressure, and a hand operated indicating device operatively associated with the said rotary valve shaft.

'7. Valve mechanism for gas distribution comprising a housing provided with an inlet port and a plurality of discharge ports for gaseous fuel to separated burners or like devices, a valve seat on the interior of the housing in which the Said discharge ports are formed, a perforated rotary valve plate co-operating with said valve seat and the discharge ports therein, a rotary shaft mounted on the housing and extending to the interior thereof for supporting and operating said perforated rotary valve, elastic means for moving said shaft in one direction, hand operated means on the said shaft for moving the shaft in an opposite direction against the action of said elastic means, a locking device carried by said shaft for locking the shaft and the valve in adjusted positions with respect to the discharge ports of the housing, and means carried by and operatively related to said shaft for closing the inlet port of the housing, while the said rotary valve is being adjusted from one of its olf or on positions to anotherselected on or off position.

8. In a gaseous fuel distribution and control device, the combination of a hollow casing provided With `an intake port for receiving gaseous fuel, a shaft movable rotatably and longitudinally within said hollow casing, said casing being provided With a plurality of separated discharge ports, a main valve carried by said shaft and having spaced valve openings to control said discharge ports, a two-part valve indexing and locking device 'carried respectively by the said shaft and housing Within the housing for positioning and indexing the said shaft and main valve carried thereby in predetermined open and closedy positions, a valve shaft actuating member accessible from the exterior of the casing, andan auxmediate of the respective predetermined open and closed positions.

9. In a gaseous fuel distribution and control device, the combination of a hollow casing provided with an intake port for receiving gaseous fuel, a shaft movable rotatably and longitudinally Within said hollow casing, said casing being provided with a plurality of separated discharge ports, a main valve carried by said shaft and having spaced valve openings to control said discharge ports, a two-part valve indexing and locking device carried respectively by the said shaft and housing within the housing for positioning and indexing the said shaft and main valve carried thereby in predetermined open and closed positions, a valve shaft actuating member accessible from the exterior of the casing, and an auxiliary valve actuated by the longitudinal movement of the valve shaft actuating member to close the intake port when the valve is moved to positions intermediate of the respective Lpre-determined open and closed positions.

10. In a gaseous fuel distribution and 'control device, the combination of a hollow casing provided with an intake port for receiving gaseous fuel, a shaft movable rotatably and longitudinally within said hollow casing, said casing being provided with a plurality of separated discharge ports, a main valve carried by said shaft and having spaced valve openings to control said discharge ports, a two-part valve indexing and locking device carried respectively by the said shaft and housing within the housing for positioning and indexing the said shaft and main valve carried thereby in pre-determined open and closed positions, a valve shaft actuating member ac- 'cessible from the exterior of the casing, anda resiliently mounted auxiliary valve actuated by the longitudinal movement of the valve shaft actuating member to close the intake port when the valve is moved to positions intermediate of the respective predetermined open and closed positions.

11. In a gaseous fuel distribution and control device, the combination of a hollow casing provided With an intake port for receiving gaseous fuel, a shaft movable rotatably and longitudinally within said hollow casing on substantially the axis of the casing, said casing being provided with Aa plurality of separate discharge ports, a valve seat provided with a substantially plane surface in which the said separated discharge ports terminate on the interior of the casing, a main valve 55 in the form of a circular plate carried by said shaft and having spaced valve openings to control said discharge ports, a two-part valve indexing and locking device carried respectively by the said shaft and housing on the interior of the housing for positioning and indexing the said shaft and main valve carried thereby in selected predetermined open and closed positions, the said two-part valve indexing and locking device comprising a circular plate secured to the valve shaft and having a plurality of spaced-apart perforations arranged circumferentially around the plate and said shaft, and a stationary locking pin within the housing, a valve shaft actuating member accessible from the exterior of the casing, the said Yvalve shaft actuating member being provided mined open and closed positions of said main valve and valve shaft, and a resiliently mounted -'auxilia.ry valve actuated by the longitudinal movement of the valve shaft actuating member to close the intake port when the valve is moved to positions intermediate of the respective predetermined open and closed positions.

12. In a gaseous fuel distribution and control device, the combination of a hollow casing provided with an intake port and with a plurality of gaseous fuel distribution ports, a shaft movable rotatably and longitudinally within the said hollow casing, a main valve carried by said shaft and having spaced valve openings movable to register with said discharge ports, a two-part valve indexing and locking device comprising a plate secured to said valve shaft and provided with a plurality of spaced-apart perforations and a locking pin carried by and within the housing for co-operating with the said perforations in said plate, said main valve plate having a plurality of spaced-apart perforations for co-operating with the separated discharge ports, certain of said perf orations in the valve plate being elongated circumferentially of the axis of said plate and certain of the perforations in the said indexing plate being elongated .circumferentially of the axis of the said index plate whereby to permit relative movement of the main valve and its shaft for relatively high and low fuel supply adjustments when the main valve is in certain open or on positions of adjustment.

13. In a gas burner control mechanism fori ranges, stoves and the like, the combination with a, plurality of gas and air mixers, of a main gas supply pipe, a valve housing operatively connected therewith and provided with an auxiliary valve seat adjacent the delivery end of the said the interior of the valve housing adjacent the aforesaid valve seat and the said auxiliary valve seat therein and having both longitudinal and rotary movements, a perforated valve plate operatively secured to the said rotary valve shaft in engageable relation with said valve seat to i' form a tight seal therewith, a control or valve indexing plate secured to said rotary valve shaft, means co-operating with said valve indexing plate for selectively locking said plate and said valve shaft against rotation, a movable spring actuated auxiliary valve carried by the valve shaft adjacent said auxiliary valve seat, elastic means for controlling said rotary valve shaft and the said perforated valve carried thereby in relation to its seat, and means -accessible from the exterior of the said header member and the housing for controlling the permissible longitudinal and rotary movements of said valve shaft and the auxiliary valve and the perforated main valve carried thereby.

14. In a gaseous fuel distribution and control device for ranges, stoves and the like, the combination of a hollow casing provided with an intake port for receiving gaseous fuel, a shaft movable rotatively and longitudinally within said hollow Casing, said casing being provided with a plurality of separated discharge ports, an interior valve seat having a substantially plane surface formed on the Wall of the casing with which the said separated discharge ports communicate on the interior of the casing, a main valve in the form of a circular plate carried by said shaft and mounted to form a fluid tight joint upon the said valve seat Within the casing and provided with a plurality of spaced, radially arranged, valve openings whereby to control the said discharge ports in the valve seat, a twopart valve indexing and locking device carried respectively by the said shaft and by the wall of the housing on the interior of the housing for positioning and indexing the said shaft and the main valve carried thereby in selected, pre-determined open and closed positions, the said twopart valve indexing and locking device comprising a circular plate secured to the valve shaft and having a plurality of spaced-apart perforations arranged circumferentially therearound and a stationary locking pin Within the housing, a valve shaft actuating member accessible from the exterior of the casing, resilient means interposed between the said valve shaft actuating member and the casing for seating the main valve, the said valve shaft actuating member being provided with spaced-apart peripherally arranged designations corresponding with the said pre-determined open and closed positions of said m-ain valve and valve shaft, and a resiliently mounted auxiliary valve actuated by longitudinal movement of the valve shaft actuating member to close the intake port when the main valve is moved to positions intermediate of the respective pre-determined open and closed positions, and operable to open the said intake port whenever the said Valve is indexed and locked in any selected open or closed position of main valve adjustment.

15. In a gaseous fuel distribution and control device for ranges and the like, the combination of a hollow casing provided with an intake port and a main valve seat in the form of an extended plane surface separated from the said intake port, said valve seat having a plurality of separated, radially arranged, gaseous fuel distribution ports formed therein, a main valve shaft movable rotatably and longitudinally through the w-all of the casing and through the said valve seat, a main valve carried by said shaft and mounted upon the valve seat, a two-part valve indexing and locking device comprising a plate secured to said valve shaft and having a plurality of spaced-apart openings therein and a locking pin carried by and within the housing for co-operating with said openings in said plate, said valve plate having a plurality of spaced-apart perforations for co-operating with the separated discharge ports in the valve seat, certain o f the said perforations in the valve plate being enlarged circumferentially of the axis of said plate and certain of the openings in the said indexing plate being correspondingly abnormally enlarged circumferentially of the axis of the said indexing plate to correspond to the circumferentially enlarged perforations in the valve plate whereby to permit relative movement of the main valve and its shaft when the main valve is in corresponding open or on positions of adjustment whereby to permit limited shifting of the main valve when in indexed and locked on positions of adjustment for diminishing fuel supply to selected fuel mixing devices and burners supplied thereby to obtain a simmering supply of fuel through the device when in such open or on positions of adjustment.,

Y 16. In a mono-dial control for a multi-burner gas stove, a casing having an inlet and a closing manifold with a flat surface in the casing and 5 openings therein each leading to a different burner, a shaft movable longitudinally and rotatably in the casing, a valve plate carried by the shaft to control the fuel inlet by the longitudinal movement of the shaft, and a perforated valve l plate rotatable with the shaft and bearing upon the flat surface of the manifold to control the distribution of fuel from the casing to the burners as the shaft is rotated.

17. In a gaseous fuel distribution and control l device a casing having an inlet at one end and a manifold with flat surface at the other end with distribution openings therein at different distances from the center of the surface, a shaft movable rotatively and longitudinally extending from the outside into the casing and having two valves carried thereby, one valve operative to close the inlet opening when the shaft is moved longitudinally, the other valve having a plurality of openings at different distances from the center and rotatable with the shaft to uncover one or more of the openings in the manifold as the shaft is rotated, and means tending to hold the shaft in a position to open the inlet valve.

18. A multi-burner gas range control comprising a casing with a gas inlet, a manifold having a flat surface in the casing with openings at different distances from the center thereof, a control dial having a shaft extending into the casing and movable rotatably and longitudinally, a spring pressed valve carried by the shaft to close the inlet opening by the longitudinal movement of the shaft, a plate rotatable with the shaft but not longitudinally movable to control the openings in the manifold, and indexing means carried by the shaft and casing for insuring that the fuel inlet valve is closed by the longitudinal movement of the shaft before the shaft can be rotated for setting the valve in another position.

19. A multi-burner control for a gas range comprising a casing with a gas inlet and a plurality of burner outlets, an operating dial on the outside of the casing and a rotatable and longitudinally movable valve shaft secured to the dial and extending within the casing, a valve plate rotatable with the shaft but not longitudinally movable for controlling the burner outlets, an inlet valve also carried by the shaft and operable by the longitudinal movement thereof toopen and close the fuel inlet, indexing means in connection with the shaft and casing for setting the valve plate in a plurality of different positions by the rotation of the shaft and having interengaging means to insure longitudinal movement of the shaft sufficient to close the fuel inlet when rotating the dial from one position to another for changing the fuel distribution.

20. In a multi-burner control in accordance with claim 19, an indexing structure comprising a perforated plate and an engaging pin for locating the shaft at different positions as indicated by the dial, certain of the perforations being larger than the plate to permit a movement of the shaft without disengaging the indexing means to vary the fuel supply to the burners.

HENRY LANGE. 

